NZ vs PAK: Babar Azam has a big heart and we agreed to splitting opening combination, says Mohammad Rizwan
Pakistan vice-captain Mohammad Rizwan addressed the criticism around the team management’s decision to break the successful opening pair of him and Babar Azam in the T20Is. Babar agreed to give up the opener’s role and bat at No. 3 after Shaheen Shah Afridi took over as the captain of the T20I side.
Mohammad Rizwan hinted about the chances of him and Babar Azam opening for Pakistan again, adding that the team management is only tyring out different combinations in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup.
The opening pair of Babar and Rizwan achieved tremendous success for Pakistan in the shortest format of the game. However, for the 5-match T20I series against New Zealand, the team management chose to split up the opening pair to accommodate young gun Saim Ayub at the top of the order.
Pakistan have already lost the series and are on the verge of getting clean-swept in the 5-match T20I series. Shaheen Afridi’s captaincy tenure for Pakistan in T20Is has already started on a horrendous note, losing the first 4 matches. The pacer has also come under scrutiny for his on-field calls and with the continued batting failures, the decision to send Babar to No. 3 has left fans irate.
IS RIZWAN NOT HAPPY WITH THE SPLIT?
Pakistan’s star in the 4th T20I against New Zealand, Mohammed Rizwan, who played a valiant 90-run knock, praised Babar for showing a big heart and giving his spot to a young player and also reckoned that both batters agreed to the decision from the team management.
“As I had discussed before, the captain and the management discussed with us earlier. Babar bhai has a big heart and we both agreed that there is no issue (in breaking the opening pair). The Pakistani fans see that something was going really well (Rizwan and Babar’s opening partnership) but our management is seeing what is the best thing that can be taken out of the given situation,” Rizwan told the press in Christchurch.
“If you look at Shaheen Afridi or Mohammad Hafeez’s talks, they never said that we won’t get to open together again. They are just experimenting to get the best combination. The management said that you both (Rizwan and Babar) have already performed so well together so we (Pakistan team management) know you both are here anyway,” Rizwan said.
HOW HAS BABAR PLAYED AT NO. 3?
A different spot in the batting order didn’t hamper Babar’s performances as he scored 3 consecutive fifties in the first 3 T20I matches against New Zealand and scored a quickfire 19 in the 4th T20I.
The vice-captain also backed Saim Ayub, who was dismissed at the scores of 1, 10 and 1 after his quick-fire 27 off 8 deliveries in the 1st T20I.
“Since you are talking about a youngster, Saim has been given an opportunity. I agree he hasn’t produced any big innings yet, but we are hoping and waiting for it. If you see the balls he has played and the confidence with which he has been playing, that has been a revelation. Yes, there are big expectations from him.”
Rizwan pointed out that a player needs to be backed at the international level, highlighting that it takes time to settle in a dynamic sport like cricket.
“At the international level, you need time and that’s why Hafeez bhai is giving Saim a lot of opportunities as well. The captain is also backing him, so that we get a well-rounded player. Hopefully, he will get to learn a lot from this series,” Rizwan said.
